RSVP driver Don Miller helps passenger Mary Shelly get to an appointment.
RSVP of Dane County volunteer Bob Shank says passengers tend to be on the quiet side the first time he picks them up.
“But on the ride home, then they get talkative. That’s when it feels you made a new friend,” says Shank, one of 336 active volunteers for RSVP’s driver services program. For 40 years, the nonprofit has provided free rides to medical appointments for Dane County seniors. Last year, the group served over 1,000 passengers.
For many older adults, asking a friend or family member for a lift isn’t an option, and a taxi across town isn’t affordable. RSVP program coordinator Mary Stamstad says seniors are grateful for the service because it allows them to stay independent. And drivers do go above and beyond.
“Our drivers regularly make stops at the pharmacy or for a gallon of milk on the way home,” says Stamstad. “Some passengers aren’t able to get out much otherwise.”
In 2015, RSVP coordinated nearly 9,000 rides, and drivers logged close to 250,000 miles shuttling folks to and from the doctor. Volunteers, who are reimbursed $.50/mile to cover vehicle expenses, donated more than 19,000 hours to the program last year.
Although no donation is required, passengers contributed $31,000 last year to keep the service up and running. RSVP also receives funding from the Dane County Department of Human Services. To be eligible, seniors must be 60 and over; live in their own home, condo or apartment; not be in a wheelchair; and not be on Medicaid.
Nationally, 10,000 baby boomers retire every day and Dane County isn’t immune from this looming influx of older people. “It’s great to have more [retirees] because it broadens the number of people who can drive for us,” says Stamstad. “But it also means there are more fragile elderly who require assistance to stay in their home.”
Vets Helping Vets, an offshoot of RSVP’s ride program, also provides more than just transportation to veterans in need of a helping hand. Driver services manager Gene Kundert says the program has really taken off since it was launched in 2011. “Fellow veterans assist with finding jobs, applying for VA benefits and connecting with other [support] groups,” Kundert says.
Because volunteer drivers come and go, RSVP is always on the hunt for fresh recruits. “Anybody who has a good, safe driving record and is 21 years old...we could use the help,” says Kundert.
Since becoming a volunteer in December, Bob Shank has provided rides and good conversation to RSVP passengers a few times each week. He says he enjoys getting to know his riders and finds giving back to the community “very rewarding.”
“I take a lot of pride in getting people to the right place, right floor, right doctor,” says Shank. “I see it as a down payment for when I may need some help too.”
RSVP of Dane County, 608-238-7787, rsvpdane.org
Interested in volunteering? Call Gene Kundert at 608-441-7896 or 608-238-7787, or email gkundert@rsvpdane.org
